Rubinyan to leave Turkey envoy role if elected speaker

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian National Assembly Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan said he would no longer serve as Armenia's special representative for the normalization process with Turkey if elected speaker of parliament.

“Since I have been nominated for the position of National Assembly speaker, it is obvious that, if elected, I will no longer serve as Armenia's special representative in negotiations with Turkey,” Rubinyan said, according to Armenpress.

Asked who could succeed him in the role, Rubinyan said no decision has been made yet.

“As far as I know, it has not yet been determined who will take over. Naturally, the prime minister and the government will make that decision,” he said.

The governing Civil Contract party selected Rubinyan by secret ballot as its nominee for speaker of Armenia's newly elected parliament. He currently serves as deputy speaker of the National Assembly and as Armenia's special representative for the normalization process with Turkey.